Briefs Mt. Crested Butte

Architects to begin crafting design for performing arts center
The town of Mt. Crested Butte and the Crested Butte Music Festival continue to negotiate an operational agreement for the proposed performing arts center at the corner of Gothic and Treasury Roads. During a November 16 Downtown Development Authority meeting, town manager Joe Fitzpatrick said they had selected an architect for the project, and the plan was to have a “green” building design, though they wouldn’t be pursuing LEED certification.
DDA board member Chip Christian applauded the progress made so far, and the polished state of the agreement document. “You guys did a good job with this thing,” he said to Mt. Crested Butte Mayor William Buck. “I know it took a lot of work.”
“It’s been pretty well thought out,” Buck responded. “We’ll be looking for your blessing on the whole agreement in the next four weeks.”
The DDA changed its next scheduled meeting to Dec. 14 to give everyone more time to review the agreement. Buck also said it may be possible to have a conceptual drawing of the project ready by then.

DDA approves 2010 budget
The DDA approved its budget for 2010 during their November 2 meeting.
The DDA will have a fund balance of $239,507 entering 2010. They expect revenues of $881,662, primarily from the property tax increment mechanism approved by voters with the DDA’s creation. Crested Butte Mountain Resort will also be paying the DDA over $30,000 as part of the profits from the new Adventure Park, which the two groups formed a partnership to create.
The DDA is anticipating spending only $156,803 in 2010, unless an unforeseen project comes up. The majority of the expenses will be used for creating plans and legal documents for the proposed performing arts center. The DDA is also contributing $36,803 toward the purchase of a new fire truck as part of a multi-year agreement with the Crested Butte Fire Protection District.
The Town Council must ratify the DDA’s budget by mid-December as part of their regular budgeting process. A public hearing over the town’s budget is scheduled for November 17.

DDA to consider helping with Chateaux landscaping project
The Chateaux condominiums are looking to improve the landscaping on the side of buildings facing Gothic Road and several representatives from the complex approached the DDA about some additional work. Chateaux Owners Association property manager Danny Myers and board member Theresa Brooks talked to the DDA on Monday, November 2.
Myers said for the past few years, as he was driving along Gothic Road, he noticed the Chateaux could use a facelift. Last year the association spent more than $70,000 on landscaping on the west side of the buildings where the parking area is. Myers said the association now intends to spend between $300,000 and $400,000 to complete landscaping on the back side of the buildings, facing Gothic Road. The work would take place next summer.
Brooks noted that much of that cost would come from replacing the railroad tie wall with one made from large boulders. They would also be re-grading the slope and re-vegetating the surface.
Altogether the property occupies a stretch about a half-mile long parallel to the side of Gothic Road, but it does not come all the way to the road. “We thought there might be an opportunity to partner with the DDA. When we do our landscaping up top you could come in and do something along the road,” Myers said.
Myers said he would like to present a budget for the project to the DDA and discuss a partnership at a future meeting. The DDA seemed interested in the proposal. DDA chair Allen Cox suggested Myers come back during their January or February meeting.